Combined shackle and ejector mechanism for stores



0a. 23, 1962 T. GEFFNE 3,059,956

COMBINED SHACKLE AND EJECTOR MECHANISM FOR STORES Filed Jan. 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 any III

7E0 GEF/A EQ,

IN VENTOR.

0770NEXJ Oct. 23, 1962 T. GEFFNER COMBINED SHACKLE AND EJECTOR MECHANISM FOR STORES Filed Jan. 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 760 GEFFA f/Q,

INVENTOR.

T. GEFFNER Get. 23, 1962 COMBINED SHACKLE AND EJECTOR MECHANISM FOR STORES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 21, 1958 INVENTOR.

IifiiiidfiSii Patented Get. 23, 1952 39359956 CUMEINED SHACKLE AND EJECTOR MECHANESM FUR STORES Ted Geflner, Pasadena, Calif. (48 Park Ave, East Merrick, Long Island, NFL) Filed .llan. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 710,365) 18 (llaims. (Cl. 29483) This invention relates to store supporting and ejection mechanism and more particularly to an improved device of this type characterized by its simplicity, reliability in action and the positiveness with which it locks stores in place until released and then simultaneously releases and ejects them away from the support.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 699,864, filed November 29, 1957, entitled Ejection Bolt Mechanism, now Patent No. 3,010,752. The device disclosed in the application referred to features synchronizer means so constructed and arranged as to utilize a plurality of ejector bolts in parallel between the store and the stationary support or carrier therefor. An important feature of that design is a positive synchronizer mechanism in combination with a common energizing means for the bolts so arranged that activation of the energy source is held ineffective to actuate either of the bolts in dividually and only in precise unison to the end that the store is released and then forcefully ejected with its longitudinal axis lying in a desired predetermined position. As is there explained, ejection of the store in a known attitude can be of controlling importance where the store is a missile, bomb or other device being discharged at a selected target over great distances.

The construction herein disclosed includes important improvements including fewer components, simpler locking mechanism and a unique store coupling device. For example, only a single set of locking detents is required for holding the store locked to the ejector, the same set of detents serving additionally to hold the multiple-stages of the telescoping ejector bolt locked in retracted position. A second set of detents is employed to lock the synchronizer mechanism to the ejector bolt. Another contrast is to be drawn between the spring pressed plunger assembly required in my earlier design and the greatly simplified plunger and single spring arrangement in the present simplified design.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved an simplified ejection bolt especially designed for use singly or in parallel with another similar bolt interconnected therewithin by a positive synchronizer mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simplified combination store shackle and ejector assembly composed of a minimum number of simple components and which may be reused repeatedly without need for disassembly or the substitution of replacement parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a multiple-stage ejection bolt for releasing a load from an airborne craft and utilizing a single set of detents for locking the store to the craft and the telescoping support bolt in retracted position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of simple, positively acting means for locking a store in place in an aircraft in instant readiness for release and ejection therefrom while the craft is in flight.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel locking and unlocking coupling for holding a store positively coupled to an ejector until ready for discharge therefrom.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a pair of the ejection bolts and the interconnecting synchronizer mechanism of this invention with parts of the store and of the aircraft to which the invention is attached shown in phantom;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 on FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the synchronizer assembly per se showing the position of parts when locked together;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one embodiment of the combined shackle and ejection bolt with the components locked in retracted position;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing the position of parts as the store is released and the bolt is in its fully extended position;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of a modified embodirnent of a releasable coupling provided between the bolt and the store supporting eyelet; and

FIGURE 8 is a view of the device shown in FIGURE 7 taken at right angles thereto with parts being shown in elevation and other parts in section.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2 there is shown a typical arrangement of the synchronized ejector mechanism designated generally ilti and understood as designed for rigid attachment to an aircraft wing ll. or the like. Preferably the mechanism includes a pair of bolt assemblies 12, 12 arranged in parallel and supporting a store 13 at their lower or extendable ends. The synchronizer mechanism interconnecting the two bolts is indicated generally at 14, a common explosive charge chamber 15 being located centrally between the bolts and connected to the upper ends of each through a conduit 16, 16. It is pointed out that the bolts are rigidly attached in any suitable manner to framing extending downwardly from the wing section and enclosed within a suitable streamlined pylon enclosure 17 open at its lower end to provide access to the ejector mechanism. Flaring outwardly and downwardly from the lower ends of the bolt casings there is preferably provided anti-sway struts 29, 2% having threaded passages in which are seated adjustable stop screws 21 provided with knurled ends 22 for adjusting the same as required to hold store 13 against side sway and locked in adjusted position as by lock nuts 23.

The structural details of the simplified ejection bolt will now be described with the aid of FIGURES 4 to 6 wherein the bolt will be seen to comprise a main tubular casing 25 having a top end wall 26 and threadedly seating a specially formed bushing 27 at its bell-shaped open lower end. The inner wall 28 of the bushing skirt is accurately aligned with the inner side wall 24 of casing 25. Freely slidable axially of casing 25 are an outer tube 29 and an inner tube 34 although it will be apparent that a different number of tubes may be employed to form the number of stages required to provide a greater extension range should this be desirable for any reason. Outer sleeve 29 is provided wtih a radial flange 31 at its upper end cooperable with a shoulder 32 formed on the inner wall of bushing 27 to limit extension of sleeve 29. Similarly, the lower end of tube 29 has an inwardly projecting flange 33 providing a limiting stop for the out-- wardly projecting flange 34 formed on the upper end of inner tube 30. The manner in which these flanges mutually cooperate to limit the extension of the tubes will be best understood by reference to FIGURE 5 showing the tubes in their fully extended positions. As is made clear by FIGURE 4, inner tube includes a removable upper end section normally held assembled to the main tube by threaded connection 36. Assembly of the tubes in this manner facilitates the assembly of the locking and detent control plunger 3'7 reciprocally supported therewithin.

The means for holding the described tubular components retracted as shown in FIGURE 4 will be described with reference to FIGURES 4 and 6. The lower end of tube 30 is provided with a pair of aligned radial bores 39 slidably seating a pair of detents having beveled outer ends 41 adapted to seat, when fully extended, in a complementarily shaped pair of recesses 42. Although the recesses are here shown as having an arcuate length corresponding to the circumferential extent of the detents, it will be understood that these recesses may be a continuous annular groove. The lateral side walls of detents have elongated notches 44 providing grooveways in which the inner ends of stop pins 45 operate, the latter having a frictional fit with bores 46 in tube 38 and their inner ends cooperating with grooves 44 to limit the path of movement of detents 4!]. Whenever bores 39 are in alignment with recesses 42, detents 44 may be moved outwardly into the recesses to lock tube 34 fully retracted within the bolt provided locking plunger 37 is held elevated with enlarged lower end 48 thereof in the position shown in FIGURE 4 thereby rigidly holding the detents in locking position. It will be recognized that the enlarged cylindrical portion 48 of the plunger merges with the stem through a cammed shoulder 49 inclined to the axis of the plunger by about 45 degrees and therefore effective in urging the detents outwardly as compression spring 50 elevates plunger 37.

Rigidly secured to the lower end of inner tube 30, as by threads 51, is a supporting lug 52 pivotally support ing, as by pin 54, a latch member 53 of an automatic store coupling device. Pin 54 extends crosswise of the slotted lower end 55 of supporting lug 52. Projecting upwardly at an angle from latch 53 is a locking arm 56 having an upper end 57 shaped substantially as shown and engageable against the inner surface of a retainer ring 58. Suitably secured to ring 58 as by screws is a ring 59 the inner edge of which overlaps an annular shoulder 60 of bushing 27 for holding the retainer ring 58 loosely assembled to bushing 27. As will be apparent from the foregoing description, retainer ring 58 is shift able axially along groove 61 though normally its weight maintains it supported against shoulder 60. However, the retainer ring is shiftable upwardly in groove 61 as required .to bypass the upper end 57 of the latch arm 56. Once the hook end 63 of the latch is fully and properly engaged within eyelet 64 of a store, retainer ring 58 moves downwardly by gravity action and prevents arm 56 from pivoting counterclockwise to release eyelet 64.

A feature of the latch design is the provision of the inclined surface 65 on hook 63, this surface preferably being inclined to the horizontal in the fully latched position of the store. Owing to this inclination the release of the upper end 57 of the latch arm leaves the latch 53 free to pivot counterclockwise away from the eyelet without delay.

The synchronizing mechanism employed to insure the precisely coordinated release of the store and the extension of the bolts generally designated 14 will now be described, it being understood that the mechanism may be identical in all material respects with that disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 699,864 filed November 29, 1957. The synchronizer proper is enclosed within a cylindrical housing provided with thread 71 at one end by which it may be rigidly secured to a stationary part of the aircraft in a desired adjusted position. One end of the casing is closed except for an opening 72 and the other end has a removable threaded ring 73 serving to hold an inner reciprocal piston '74 assembled to the casing. The interior side wall has axially spaced semi-spherical grooves 75, 76 arranged to register with radial bores 77 in piston 74 when this piston rests against threaded ring 73.

Loosely seated in bores 77 are pairs of locking balls 78 and '79 the diameter of which is substantially equal to the diameter of bores 77 taken with the depth of grooves '75. Accordingly, the balls are adapted to be locked seated in these grooves when the large diameter flanges 8h, 81 on linkage rods 82, 83 are opposite bores 77. However, when flanges 80 and 81 are shifted to the left from the position shown in FIGURE 3 until they are out of alignment with bores 77, the locking detent balls are free to rest on the smaller diameter portions 84, of the linkage rod in which position piston 74 may be shifted to the left until it abuts the left hand end wall of easing 7%. The angularly disposed shoulder interconnecting flange 8t and the reduced diameter portions 84, 85 of the the linkage rods is effective to shift the balls outwardly into seating engagement With grooves 75, 76 when the linkage rods are shifted back to the right to the position stated in FIGURE 3.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that so long as either flange 89 or flange 81 of rods 82 and 83 is seated in the associated annular groove 75, 76, it is impossible to move piston 74. However, when both rods have been shifted to the left to release the retaining balls inwardly, the piston is then free to move to the left. The remote ends of rods 82 and 83 are connected to bell cranks 87 pivotally supported on brackets 88 carried by the ejection bolts. The upper ends of the bell cranks are pivotally connected to links 89, the upper ends of the latter being connected to one end of levers 9t and the other end of these levers being pivoted to a bracket 91 extending outwardly from the bolt casing. An intermediate portion of levers is pivoted by pin 92 to a knuckle 93 threaded to the upper end of the synchronizer lock plunger 94, the latter extending downwardly through an opening in the upper end wall 26 of each bolt.

The lower end of plunger 94 has an annular groove 95 positionable so as to be in alignment with bores 96 formed in the upper end of plunger 37, the latter having seated therein detent balls 97. It will be understood that th inner end of bores 96 are peened over slightly to prevent the escape of balls 97 inwardly whenever plunger 94 is not seated in well 98 of the plunger. Under the conditions illustrated in FIGURE 5, it will be understood that the bolt and the space therewithin is filled with the products of combustion from an explosive charge under pressure sufficiently high to hold the parts fully extended and locking plunger 37 depressed against the bottom of the well in lug 52. :Shortly after this condition obtains, the gas present will leak past the side Walls of the tubes and through the bores containing locking detents 40. When the gas pressure lowers sufficiently spring 50 will move plunger 37 upwardly until the rim of well 98 contacts the flanged upper end of bushing 35. Balls 97 do not fall into well 98 because of the slight peening over of the inner end of bores 96.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8, there is shown an alternate tong-type coupling for releasably locking the store to the ejector bolt. The same or similar parts of the alternate construction are designated by the same reference characters used in describing the first embodiment and distinguished therefrom by a prime. It will be understood that the ejection bolt proper is identical with that described above, the principal difference being the replacement of the single latch member 53 with a pair of tong members 53' pivotally supported by pin 54' extending crosswise of slot 55' in lug 52'. The lower ends of these latches are opposed to one another in a common vertical plane directly beneath the pivot pin 54 and cooperate in engaging into eye 64 connected rigidly to a store to be supported by the ejector bolt assembly.

Another difference between the two constructions is that latch 53 of the first described embodiment normally tends to pivot counterclockwise so that the open side of its supporting notch faces downwardly and in position to receive the eyelet of the store as the latter is elevated toward the bolt. In the second embodiment, on the other hand, the abutting facing ends 1% of the latch members diverge downwardly to provide a pilot for receiving the upwardly converging sides of the store eyelet 64'. Accordingly, the elevation of this eyelet between the ends of the latch members acts to pivot members 53' apart following which they close automatically beneath the eyelet as the upper ends 57', 57' pivot to lie against the inner side wall of retainer ring 58'.

The operation of the described mechanism will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description of its components. For example, let it be assumed that the bolt is fully extended (FIGURE 5) and in readiness to have a store 13 locked thereto for joint support by a pair of the bolts acting in parallel. The store is elevated by any suitable hoist with eyelets 6d of the store aligned directly beneath the axes of the respective bolts. Continued elevation of the store allows the eyelets to enter the open side of latches 53 in the manner clearly shown in FIGURE 5. Further elevation acts to pivot the latch clockwise to engage beneath the crosspiece of the eyelet, it being observed from FIGURE 1 that the open side of the latches face toward one another thereby making it unnecessary to employ any member across this open side to safeguard against disengagement of the store. Continued elevation of the store telescopes the tubular components of the bolt together, inner tube 3%? telescoping into outer tube 29 following which the latter is elevated into outer casing 25. During this operation, detents are held extended by the action of spring on plunger 37. However, as the detents reach the level of the lower end of bushing 27, plunger 94 enters well 98 of plunger 37 and depresses the latter against the bottom of the well in lug 52. The detents 40 will then be pressed inwardly due to the action of the beveled outer ends thereof against the ends of bushing 27 thereby allowing the tubular parts to be fully retracted within casing 25. As detents 40 come opposite recesses 42, spring 50 acts through cammed shoulder 49 on plunger 37 to force the detents outwardly allowing the plunger to move inwardly. However, before this can take place, it is essential that synchronizer plunger 94 be lowered until groove 65 is opposite detent balls 97 so that these can enter groove 95 allowing plungers 37 and 94 to move upwardly.

The raising of the plunger 94 acts through lever 99 to move link 89 downwardly thereby shifting rods 82 and 83 toward one another and effecting the relatching of synchronizer balls 78 and 79 in the respective seating grooves '75 and 76. When so positioned, all parts of the assembly are positively locked against movement in any direction until and unless fluid pressure is released within the bolt to efiect its unlocking.

Preferably, unlocking is accomplished by placing an explosive charge within chamber 15, it being understood that this chamber is provided with an end cap through which this charge may be inserted and containing means for detonating the charge at a desired time. This is conveniently done through the closing of an electric circuit to any suitable detonator means. At the instant it is desired to release the store, the circuit is closed to the detonator exploding the charge and releasing a large volume of high pressure gas for flow through conduit 16, 16 into the upper end of each bolt. This pressure is not then eifective to extend tubes 29 and 30 because they are held locked by detents id and these in turn are held locked by synchronizer 14. However, the pressure does act against the upper end of plunger 37 and transmits a downward force on plunger $34 and the linkage connection therewith. It will therefore be recognized that the application of gaseous pressure within the bolt applies force on each of rods 82 and 83 acting in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 3.

Let it be assumed that the left hand rod 82 is pulled momentarily before rod 83 is pushed. Such pull on rod 82 allows locking balls 78 to move inwardly out of groove 75. However, the rod can move only a short distance before abutting the rings closing the end. of sleeve 74. Thereafter, no further movement of rod 82 is possible until the second set of locking balls 76 is released. This cannot occur until a predetermined pressure has been generated within the second ejection bolt upon the occurrence of which rod 83 moves to the left releasing balls 76 and piston 74 for movement to the left moving both plungers 94 downwardly until balls 97 disengage releasing plunger 94 from plunger 37. At this time, detents 40 are free to move inwardly (see FIGURE 5) thereby releasing the tubes for outward extension under the high pressure gas then present in the ejector bolts. Only slight downward movement of the tubes is required to move ends 57 of latches 53 beyond retaining ring 58 thereby allowing latches 53 to open and release the store. The very high pressures developed interiorly of the bolt extends tubes 29 and 39 downwardly against the store with high velocity and force. Accordingly, not only is the bolt released from its locked position, but both ends of the store are ejected with tremendous force and velocity, and in accurately timed relation to one another whereby the store is projected away from the aircraft with its longitudinal axis in a desired predetermined attitude.

it is to be noted that all parts of the assembly are retained in their fully assembled positions and remain attached to the aircraft for subsequent use in supporting and ejecting other stores. No reconditioning is required of the components, it only being necessary to elevate another store against the extended ends of the two bolts which operate repeatedly in the manner described above to relock the store automatically to the bolts and the bolts in retracted position for refiring. The only other action required is the resetting of the detonating assembly.

The second embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 operates in the same manner described in detail in connection with the first embodiment but diifers essentially in that the releasable support for the store includes a pair of cooperating tongs effective to positively lock the store to the bolt. For this reason, it is feasible to use this latter bolt singly with complete assurance that the store cannot become accidentally disengaged from the bolt until the charge in the detonating chamber is set off or until such time as an operating gas pressure is released within the bolt chamber.

While the particular combination synchronized bolt and ejector assembly herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A store carrying an ejection mechanism for holding a store positively coupled to a support therefor, and operable upon energization to release the store and to eject the same forcibly away from its support, said mechanism including a unitary assembly comprising a plurality of tubular members telescopically nested together, means for holding said tubular members locked in assembled relation while permitting the same to move axially relative to one another between collapsed and extended positions, detent means for locking said members telescoped together in said collapsed position, and including means for locking the store coupled to said mechanism, and means including a source of high pressure fluid operable upon release to disengage said detent means and to extend said tubular members to said extended position thereof against the released store and with great force and speed to eject the same away from said mechanism while leaving the definedcomponents of said unitary assembly locked together.

2. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 characterized in ,the use of a plurality of said unitary assemblies arranged in parallel to support the same unitary store and including rigid means holding said ejection mechanisms spaced apart, and synchronizer means coupled to said ejection mechanisms including pressure responsive means operable to hold each ejection mechanism locked in retracted position until each is activated by fluid under a predetermined pressure adequate to unlock said detent means and to subject said nested tubular members to a substantial ejection pressure, whereby said ejection mechanisms are extendable in precise unison to eject a store therefrom while disposed in a desired attitude.

3. An ejection bolt assembly for use in holding two subassemblies locked together for a period and for suddenly unlocking them and forcibly ejecting one from the other, said assembly including an outer tubular casing, a plurality of concentrically arranged tubular members telescopically supporting one another within said casing, means for holding said tubular members in assembled relation but free to move between retracted and extended positions, and coordinated detent means extending between the inner one of said tubular members and said casing for holding all of said members releasably locked retracted within said casing and with said sub-assemblies locked together.

4. An ejection bolt assembly as defined in claim 3 characterized in the provision of means for instantly releasing said detent means and simultaneously extending said tubular members comprising a source of high pressure gas, and means for releasing said gas into the interior of said tubular members to extend the same.

5. An ejection bolt assembly as defined in claim 4- characterized in the provision of spring pressed means normally positioned to bar the opening movement of said detent means and including a portion exposed to pressurized gas entering said bolt assembly to move said spring pressed means in opposition to said spring and out of the path of said detent means, whereby the gas pressure is effective to unlock said tubular members for extension under said gas pressure.

6. An ejection bolt assembly as defined in claim 3 characterized in that said coordinated detent means includes plunger means reciprocally supported inside said tubular members and movable between a position positively barring the opening of said detent means and an alternate position offering no interference to the opening of said detent means.

7. An ejection bolt assembly as defined in claim 3 characterized by the provision of a plurality of said bolt assemblies arranged to act in concert in supporting a load, a common pressurized gas supply for activating said bolt assemblies simultaneously, and pressure responsive means interconnecting said assemblies effective to hold said bolt assemblies in retracted position until a predetermined gas pressure of a value to retract said detent means exists in each of said assemblies and for assuring the simultaneous actuation of each of said assemblies to their extended positions.

8. An ejection bolt assembly comprising a main chamber having a cylindrical bore, a first sleeve slidable lengthwise within said bore, a second sleeve telescopically supported within said first sleeve and having a flange at its lower end of substantially the same diameter as the main body of said first sleeve, and detent means extendable across the arc of contact between the lower end of said casing and the juxtaposed surface of said second sleeve when retracted tolock both of said sleeves retracted.

9. An ejection bolt assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein the opposite ends of said sleeves have radial flange means cooperable to limit the extension of said sleeves relative to said chamber whereby said sleeves are retained assembled to said main chamber upon extension of the sleeves.

10. An ejection bolt assembly as defined in claim 8 characterized in that said detent means are movably supported at the outer end of said second sleeve and are engageable with retainer means on the outer end of said main chamber to hold said sleeves locked retracted within said main chamber.

ll. In combination, a pneumatically actuated device comprising a cylinder and cooperating plunger means telescopically arranged, coupling means movably mounted on the outer end of said plunger means, means controlled by the position of said plunger means relative to said cylinder for holding said coupling closed while said plunger remains in a predetermined position relative to said cylinder, means whereby relative movement of said cylinder and plunger in one direction away from said predetermined position automatically permits said coupling means to move relative to said plunger from closed to open position, and detent means for locking said cylinder and plunger in a predetermined position wherein said coupling means is held closed.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 including means responsive to pressure conditions within said cylinder to release said detent means and move said cylinder and plunger relatively to one another to permit said coupling to move from closed to open position.

13. In combination, a pneumatically actuated device comprising a cylinder and cooperating plunger means telescopically arranged, coupling means movably mounted on the outer end of said plunger means, means controlled by the position of said plunger means relative to said cylinder for holding said coupling closed while said plunger remains in a predetermined position relative to said cylinder, and means whereby relative movement of said cylinder and plunger in one direction away from said predetermined position automatically permits said coupling means to move relative to said plunger from closed to open position, said coupling means comprising latch means pivotally mounted on the outer end of said plunger means engageable about an object in the closed position thereof and disengageable from an object in another position thereof, and retainer means for said latch means operable to prevent opening of said latch means when said plunger is retracted Within said cylinder but releasing said latch means for opening upon a predetermined extension of said plunger from said cylinder.

14. In combination, a cylinder enclosing a plunger having one end projecting therefrom, means pivotally supporting coupling means adjacent the outer end of said plunger When retracted and having arm means extending backwardly toward said cylinder, stationary means adjacent one end of the cylinder and in the path of said arm means as the plunger moves toward retracted po sition, said stationary means being effective to lock said coupling means closed in one position of said cylinder and plunger and permitting said coupling means to open upon movement of said plunger away from said one position, means for locking said plunger in said one position to support a load locked in said closed coupling, means for generating gas at a rapid rate for delivery to said cylinder, and means responsive to pressure of said gas to release said locking means thereby opening said coupling means and extending said plunger relative to said cylinder.

15. The combination defined in claim 14 characterized in the use of a plurality of said cylinders and plunger assemblies in parallel to support a common load in the closed couplings thereof with each plunger locked in said one position, means for supplying pressurized gas to each of said cylinders simultaneously, and synchronized means responsive to the gas pressure in each of said cylinders for holding said plungers locked in said one position until all are in readiness for extension in unison.

16. In combination, a cylinder enclosing a plunger having one end projecting therefrom, means pivotally supporting coupling means adjacent the outer end of said plunger when retracted and having arm means extending backwardly toward said cylinder, stationary means adjacent one end of the cylinder and in the path of said arm means as the plunger moves toward retracted position, said stationary means being effective to lock said coupling means closed in one position of said cylinder and plunger and permitting said coupling means to open upon movement of said plunger away from said one position, said coupling means being open in the extended position of the plunger to receive the attachment means of a store desired to be attached to said coupling, the movement of the store axially of the plunger and against the open coupling means being effective to retract the plunger into said cylinder while holding the coupling closed about the store supporting means, and separate means for automatically moving said detent means into locked position and for holding said coupling closed as the plunger reaches said one position.

17. A combined store supporting and ejection mechanism comprising a tubular casing slidably supporting therewithin a plurality of telescopically arranged tubular members movable longitudinally of said casing between a retracted position and a captive extended position, common detent means for holding all said members locked retracted, and detent control means slidably supported centrally of said casing including spring means normally biasing the same to a position positively locking said detent means in locked position, means for supplying pressurized fluid to the inner end of said casing to move said detent control means out of locking position and thereafter eflfective to move said tubular members forcibly to the extended position thereof, and means movab-ly supported independently of said telescopically arranged tubular members and engageable with said detent control means and eifective in one position thereof to lock said detent control means against movement by the pressure of said pressurized fluid, and means for releasing said movably supported means thereby allowing the pressurized fluid to actuate said detent control means.

18. The combination defined in claim 17 characterized in that the innermost one of said tubular members has one end projecting outwardly beyond one end of said casing, store engaging latch means movably supported on the outer end of said last mentioned tubular member, said latch means being movable automatically into latching engagement with a store as the store is moved thereagainst in a direction to move said tubular members to- Ward the retracted position thereof, and means engageable With said latch means as the tubular members approach their said retracted position to lock said latch engaged with the store.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,776 Blackmarr Sept. 30, 1930 2,534,704 Frieder et a1. Dec. 19, 1950 2,541,087 Musser Feb. 13, 1951 2,699,908 Fletcher Ian. 18, 1955 2,726,576 Musser Dec. 13, 1955 2,749,063 Low June 5, 1956 2,822,207 Steinmetz et a1 Feb. 4, 8 2,923,278 Katzberg Feb. 2, 1960 2,931,341 Meadows Apr. 5, 1960 2,937,899 Murphy May 24, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 979,155 France Dec. 6, 1950 

